What does intervene mean?
To intervene means to become involved in a situation in order to influence, alter, or stop its course. The word is especially common for actions taken by governments, institutions, organizations, or individuals who step into a dispute, crisis, or ongoing process. An intervention may provide assistance or mediation, as when aid agencies intervene after a natural disaster, or it may involve forceful or controversial action, as when a government intervenes in another country's affairs. In everyday use, people also say that someone “intervened” when they interrupted an argument or stopped a course of action. The term is more formal than expressions such as “stepped in,” but it is widely understood in news, public affairs, legal contexts, and ordinary conversation.
verbTo become involved in a situation in order to change or influence its course, especially by stopping, mediating, or providing assistance. It can also mean to come between opposing parties or to interrupt a process.
- To become involved in a situation in order to change, stop, or influence its course.
- To come between opposing parties, especially to mediate or assist.
- To interrupt or step into an activity or process.
- To interfere with or act in opposition to something, especially in political or military contexts.
"The government intervened in the dispute by introducing new regulations."
"A local charity intervened to provide shelter to families displaced by the fire."
"The regulator intervened after several companies were accused of misleading consumers."
The word intervene originally meant to come between: Latin inter meant “between,” and venire meant “to come.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intervene come from?
The word comes from Latin intervenire, formed from inter-, meaning “between,” and venire, meaning “to come.” Its earliest sense referred to coming between or upon someone, and over time the English word developed into its modern meanings of becoming involved in a situation, mediating, or interrupting. It is related to words including convene, prevent, and venture, which also reflect the Latin root ven-, “to come.”
Related word forms
How intervene is actually used
The word is commonly used in formal and journalistic contexts. It can suggest legitimate assistance, mediation, or public action, but it may also carry a negative connotation when the involvement is unwanted or excessively forceful.
Easily confused with intervene
To intervene is to become involved in order to alter or influence a situation, whereas to prevent is to stop something from happening.